Spiritwood Music Northwoods Ensemble

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The Spiritwood Music Northwoods Ensemble features the award winning string musicians on their label: Mary LaPlant (violin & piano), Eli Bissonett (violin), John Ely (dobro), Jim Jacobson (cello), Bill LaPlant (mandolin), Bill Bulinski (guitar), Doc Rob Mattson (guitar), Don LaPlant (bass) and Pat Surface (guitar).

PAT SURFACE
Born in St. Paul, Pat Surface was adopted at age 2 into a family with a formidable musical legacy - the LaPlants. Through these award-winning musicians and luthiers, Pat's love for all forms of traditional music was encouraged. Growing to be 6'8" tall, Pat became an all-star basketball player; but music was always his first love and, in 1985, he became a professional musician, playing at festivals, colleges, and other venues. Performing for over 20 million people and with 15 recordings to his credit released on his Spiritwood Music label, Pat's troubadour/balladeer style of soulful vocals paired with sizzling fingerstyle guitar is constantly in demand, so Pat stays on the road much of the year with his wife and creative partner, Donna.

ELI BISSONETT
Violin virtuoso, Eli Bissonett was born in Savonlinna, Finland - an area much resembling the Northwoods of Minnesota. His family moved to Ely in 1979 and he began violin lessons at the age of 8 under the instruction of Helen Pakola; he later attended the University of Minnesota and studied there under Young-Nam Kim. With Kim, Eli founded the Northern Lights Chamber Music Institute, which celebrated its 5th year in August 2006. Eli demonstrates his classical training on his solo debut recording Listening Point, and his second recording, Lonely Land, showcases both his ethnic sensibilities as well as his classical style. (Both CDs are on the Spiritwood Music label.) But Eli can also play a mean fiddle, as demonstrated on two Pat Surface recordings, The Long Goodbye and The House Of Amazing Grace, as well as on the Boundary Water Boys' albums, Acoustic Crossroads and Due North. Eli plays beautiful Americana violin on the Spiritwood Music Cabin Series.

MARY LAPLANT
Three-time Minnesota State Fiddle Champion,Mary LaPlant's passions have always extended beyond her dedication to family (she is a full-time mom to Emily and Jedidiah) to two other callings; violin and the environment. She has loved nature as long as she can remember, and chose Forrestry over violin for a time. But her phenominal talent created such a demand for her playing, and so she is performing, recording, and competing when she can. Mary has two solo albums on the Spiritwood label, and she performs on numerous others as well (including the Spiritwood Music Cabin CD Series).

BILL BULINSKI
Born in Chicago, Bill Bulinski fell in love with the guitar at an early age and finally was given a Silvertone by his parents at age 11; he never looked back. When his family moved to Ely, Bill started a band called The Electras; starting out as a mostly instrumental outfit, the group scored some regional hits and was signed by Columbia Records. Moving back to Chicago allowed Bill to play full time, including starting a band called The Greaseballs to perform his retro-sounding tunes. But though he was busy writing hundreds of songs, the call of the Northwoods was strong, and so Bill returned to Ely and became a Boundary Water Boy. His signature surf/blues guitar style adds depth and an interesting patina to Acoustic Crossroads, and his distinctive classical style graces many other Spiritwood CDs (including the Spiritwood Music Cabin CD Series).

DOC ROB MATTSON
Dr. Rob Mattson is a noted chiropractic sports physician who plays a hot acoustic bass and contributes sweet vocal harmonies on Acoustic Crossroads.Lullabies & Love Songs and Due North. Doc traveled with his family's band, the 42nd Generation, performing at churches and functions throughout his high school years; so popular was thisgroup, that many musicians would stop by just to jam, including Tim and Bill Patterson, and Minnesota Guitar Picker Of The Year, John Thompson. Nowadays, when he is not traveling with world class athletes such as the USA Barefoot Water Ski Team to exotic destinations, helping patients at his clinic in Ely, volunteering as Captain of the Eagle's Nest Fire Department, or (his favorite job of all) being a devoted father and husband (to children, Erika and Trevor, and wife, Mary) Doc still loves to play live at churches, and with the Boundary Water Boys. His beautiful traditional guitar is on many Spiritwood Music projects (including the Spiritwood Music Cabin CD Series).

JOHN ELY
An award-winning steel guitarist (and dobro player) John Ely is a northern MN native,but spent his formative years and first established his reputation in the Austin area during the '80s and '90s. His early training in classical piano and music theory helped him to quickly absorb many musical styles, leading to an eclectic list of credits, including performing and recording with: Jerry Jeff Walker, Lyle Lovett, Johnny Gimble, Stoney Edwards, and more. A member of the hit band, Asleep At The Wheel, John added four albums on Epic and Arista, hit songs, two Grammies, three other Grammy nominations, and numerous TV appearances including: Austin City Limits, The Tonight Show, Nashville Now, (and more) to his illustrious credits. John is featured on many Spritwood Music projects besides the Boundary Water Boys' albums (including the Spiritwood Music Cabin CD Series).

BILL AND DON LAPLANT
Brothers Bill LaPlant (mandolin) and Don LaPlant (guitarist & acoustic bass player), are sons of the renowned luthier, Lloyd LaPlant, as well as first cousins of Pat's; the trio grew up making music together in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Bill and Don follow in their famous father's footsteps, working asnoted luthiers and musicians. The LaPlants have played on numerous projects with Pat besides Acoustic Crossroads, including Pass The Music On, which is dedicated to their father. Don LaPlant is married to 3-time Minnesota State Fiddle Champion, Mary LaPlant (a Spiritwood Music artist with several projects on the Spiritwood Label). The brothers LaPlant perform on the Spiritwood Music Cabin CD Series.

JAMES JACOBSON
Jim Jacobson, cellist, studied at the New England Conservatory and the University of Minnesota. He has also toured Europe, South America and the United States. He has frequently performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Intergalactic Contemporary Ensemble, Sobieski String Quartet, Sartory String Quartet, North Star Opera and many other local ensembles. Currently the principal cellist of the Minnesota Opera, Mr. Jacobson teaches cello at Augsburg College. His beautiful cello is on the Spiritwood Music Cabin CD Series.

Cabin Dreams A gorgeous instrumental compellation album - featuring selections from several Spiritwood Music CDs (including instrumental tracks from vocal CDs). These beautiful, mellow tunes gently flow from one to another - with: violins, viola, cello, guitars, mandolin, piano, and flute. CD Price: $14.97

Cabin Fever In the spirit of the American Folk tradition, this instrumental CD blends acoustic instruments to capture the sounds of our heritage - joining two Classically-trained Spiritwood fiddlers, Mary LaPlant and Eli Bissonett, and featuring other Spiritwood artists performing impressions of the Great Northwoods. CD Price: $14.97

Cabin Christmas An acoustic instrumental Christmas album featuring Paul Imholte on the hammered dulcimer...with the Spiritwood Music Northwoods Ensemble (adding violin, cello, guitar, & bowed bass). 3rd in their relaxing Cabin CD series (Cabin Fever, Cabin Serenity, Cabin Christmas, Cabin Dreams) - with stunning Jim Hansel covers. CD Price: $14.97

Cabin Serenity An acoustic instrumental album of beautiful Americana/Roots melodies featuring the award-winning string musicians on the Spiritwood Label - including 3-time Minnesota State Fiddle Champion, Mary LaPlant - 2 violins, 3 guitars, cello, dobro, mandolin, piano (and just a touch of loons and songbirds) blend together for a serene Northwoods experience. CD Price: $14.97

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